Investigating innovative ways of sharing the creative process from start to premiere

FEBRUARY 2017: REHEARSAL RESIDENCY, A.R.T./NEW YORK

Bebe, Michelle, and Darrell work for two days together.

Michelle and Darrell’s first go at duet action. Their appetite for entry is what hits me most—they’re attuned to each other, weight fully at risk. Vocabulary starts rising: resonant, rebound, delay the fall, duality. Darrell tries speaking his action as it happens; his words lag behind, the verbal, objectifying brain being slower than the kinetic one.

:38 I see something, a brief alignment, enough to try for it again. Anyplace would do, really, but why not try to put a tag on something, see what’s repeatable, see what happens to it in aiming for repeatability.

The emphasis shifts somewhat. I ask them to notice the shifts of weight, leg to leg: timing, arrangement, surprise.

Finishing up, back with Donny. I’ve backed off from setting, they’re soaked in what it needs to be. A pleasure to watch. Do we set this? All?

Due to a family situation Darrell was not able to continue our work together after our July 2017 residency at the Wexner Center for the Arts. This duet became a solo for Michelle with support from the rest of us, intent on keeping Darrell in the room.